Time to buy: Clock brings $25,000 bid

PITTSBURGH – An eclectic mix of objects brought many interested buyers to Pittsburgh for Dargate Auction Galleries’ three-day sale in October.



The sale, October 19-21, featured the estates of Helen G. Truman of DuBois, Pa., and Murray I. Litmans of Pittsburgh. Items from Ligonier and Erie, Pa., and California were also offered among the more than 24,000 lots.



An 18th century Chippendale cherry tall case clock sold for $25,000 to a local buyer who outbid other floor bidders as well as a phone bidder.



The clock, dated circa 1780, boasted an inlaid decoration of paterae, stars, and flowers on door and base. It also featured a painted black and red floral face and a repainted moon phase dial with scenes of ships and castles.



Phone bidders fought for the chance to own an oil on canvas of a marine scene painted by artist Michael Zeno Diemer. The painting, which depicted a tall-masted sailing ship along a coastline, sold to a buyer from Vermont for $5,000.



A farm scene painted by a regional artist also generated excitement, selling for $12,000 to a local buyer. The painting, by American artist George Hetzel, came with a letter of authentication from the Westmoreland Museum of Art.



Another local bidder went home with an oil painting by A. Bryan Wall. Uncharacteristic for the artist, it featured a seashore with a cow-driven cart in the distance, and was titled “Hauling Stone from the Sea Coast.” The painting sold for $6,250.



Fine estate jewelry sparkled at the sale. A lady’s diamond and platinum ring sold for $6,400. The contained two pear-shaped diamonds, each approximately 1.1 cts with H-J color and VS clarity, and 10 straight baguette diamonds with a total weight of .3 cts.



A lady’s platinum and diamond engagement ring containing a 1.9 ct oval cut diamond sold to a local bidder for $6,700.



The jewelry star of the show was a lady’s platinum, diamond and sapphire lorgnette suspended on a platinum Tiffany chain. The lorgnette contained 99 diamonds with an approximate total weight of 1.5 cts. It was hammered down to a local bidder for $10,000.